The best burgers in Australia

Order the: American cheeseburger ($29)

The title of Australia’s best burger for 2026 – and the third best globally, according to the World’s 101 Best Burger Places list – goes to chef Neil Perry's American cheeseburger. You can now find this award-winning masterpiece at Café Margaret (formerly Next Door), the sibling venue to Perry's schmick fine diner Margaret. The legendary recipe features a 160-gram CopperTree Farms’ beef patty (a mix of brisket and chuck) ground daily, shaped by hand, cooked to medium and served with melted American cheese, rose mayo (spiked with umami and tomato sauce), onion and pickles in a milk bun, with the option to add fresh chilli and bacon.

Address: 30-36 Bay St, Double Bay, NSW

Order the: Classic cheeseburger ($15-$19)

The top Melbourne entrant on the World's 101 Best Burgers list for 2026, this unassuming shopfront in Brunswick East landed in 13th spot. Charrd's menu is short 'n' sweet, with just two burger options: the classic (with onions and pickles) and the Charrd signature (with added truffle aioli, chilli jam and caramelised onions). Both are available with a single and double patty. There are fries, of course, and housemade iced tea and lemonade to wash it all down.

Address: 74 Lygon St, Brunswick East, VIC

Order the: Gidley Burger ($28)

One of Sydney’s best burgers is found at subterranean swish steakhouse, The Gidley. And, you can also get your hands on it at Surry Hills bar and bistro, The Rover. Made on a milk bun, the burger features a double beef patty sourced from their in-house butchery at new sibling restaurant Alfie’s, rich cheddar cheese and zingy pickles. You won’t find any salad or fancy relishes, and after one bite, you will forget they even exist. If you’re in a group, waiters recommend getting one as a starter to share, which would be an excellent idea, except you really won’t want to – trust us.

Address: Basement, 161 King St, Sydney, NSW

Order the: Wagyu and Roasted Bone Marrow ($49)

There’s a very good reason Peel Street’s beloved late-night wood-grill eatery fires up tens of thousands of burgers every year. The name, Bread & Bone, nods to their signature burg: the Wagyu and Roasted Bone Marrow, which tastes just as incredible at 11.30am as it does at 9pm. Served medium rare, this legendary stack features a 200-gram melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu patty, with sharp provolone, pickled shallot and truffle aioli on a moody charcoal bun.⁠ It comes with a generous serving of crispy fries, but we recommend rounding out the feast with a side of charred corn ribs and B&B fried chicken wings.

Address: 15 Peel St, Adelaide, SA

Order the: SK Wagyu burger ($38)

Let’s get this out of the way: SK Steak & Oyster isn’t your run-of-the-mill burger joint. This is where you go when you’re ready to flex a little and spend a few extra bucks. The Wagyu burger here is all about understated perfection – premium juicy Wagyu, melted cheese, pickles, a swipe of American mustard, ketchup and a side of fries. For those with commitment issues, extra toppings like lettuce, tomato or a fried egg are on hand. This burger isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s simply here to remind you that the wheel was perfect to begin with. If you’re out to impress a date or just splurging solo, SK is the place to do it.

Address: The Calile Hotel, G12/48 James St, Fortitude Valley, QLD

Order the: Fillet-O-Shrimp ($28)

If there's anyone you can trust to pick Australia's best burger, it's Jimmy Hurlston – better known as @jimmysburgers – one of the country's most prolific burger reviewers since 2012. At the inaugural Australia's Best Burger Awards 2025, he crowned CBCo Brewing’s ‘Fillet-O-Shrimp’ with the coveted National Burger Award. The brewery's next-level burg is an ode to the Maccas fish fave, featuring a panko-crumb prawn patty, lettuce, onion, and a creamy ranch and Japanese Mayo sauce. Yes, yes, yes!

Address: 89 Bertie St, Port Melbourne, VIC

Order the: Classic Cog ($26.90 +$2 for plant-based patty)

The burgers at this no-fuss, rock 'n' roll burger joint absolutely slap, but many people actually just come for Tony himself. The guy is a bit of a Bondi legend, having lived a past life as a band manager and promoter. As such, his menu is a veritable ode to Sydney rock royalty, and while you might be tempted to order your favourite band’s namesake stack, a surefire bet is the Classic Cog. Vegos can easily swap the juicy grass-fed beef patty for a V2 plant-based option, which is topped with melty American cheese, crisp iceberg lettuce, and a combo of barbecue chutney and tomato relish, both made by Tony’s friends. Bonus points: the entire joint is dog-friendly and the outdoor seating is perfect for rocking up barefoot straight from the sand.

Address: 1/144-148 Glenayr Ave, Bondi Beach, NSW

Order the: Brod Burger ($19)

With four locations across Canberra, Brodburger’s variety is unbeatable. Their classic Brodburger is a 200-gram flame-grilled beef patty stacked with lettuce, tomato, red onion, house-made aioli and tomato relish. Choose between brie, blue, cheddar or Swiss cheese for extra goo. Brodburger puts every thinkable protein in between their buns, from steak to lamb patties to salmon fillets, and a large selection of burgers have mini options available. We recommend pulling up to their Fyshwick location tucked inside Capital Brewing Co, where their brews with a burger are a match made in heaven.

Address: Fyshwick, Phillip, Tuggeranong & Kingston, ACT

Order the: Good Good Burger ($14)

You know when a burger joint consistently gets glowing reviews, something clearly fantastic is going on. Alright, where do we begin? First of all, the hand-pressed smash patties here are beyond perfection. Seasoned perfectly and with a juicy-sweet, crispy edge, each meaty bite is eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-your-skull levels of good. The pickles and sauces are all made in-house, and the size of each burg is generous – not too huge, it's an unapproachable monolith, but not too small you'll walk away hungry. The potato rolls for the chicken burgers are delicious and the perfect vehicles to transport all that saucy flavour into your mouth. 

Address: Essendon & Maidstone, VIC

Order the: Smokin’ Mike’s BBQ ($22)

At this stage of the game, Bad Love Burger Co is a Perth institution when it comes to the saucy buns that we all know and love. From humble beginnings as a pop-up to their now West Leederville home ground, Bad Love is here to stay, and for good reason. Wafer-thin beef patties are smashed to a near crisp, forming a laced edge of sorts that keeps crowds coming back for more, alongside their famed fried chicken and vego burgers alike. Get around the Smokin’ Mike’s BBQ burger with two smashed beef patties, double cheese, bacon, pickles, crispy onions, smoky barbecue sauce and a slathering of tangy chipotle mayo – holy smokes!  

Address: 39 Harrogate St, West Leederville, WA

Order the: C.E.O. ($27)

Burger Incredible lives up to its name, dishing out some of the best burgers Adelaide has ever seen against a backtrack of hip-hop tunes and fun vibes. The heaviest hitter on the burger menu is the C.E.O – a towering masterpiece that stacks two smashed-to-order beef patties with crispy buttermilk fried chicken, a mac and cheese patty, two types of American cheese, bacon, pickles, onion and homemade sauces. Absolute insanity! If that’s a bit much, the $14 cheeseburger and fries special on Mondays is another winner.

Address: 111 Unley Rd, Unley, SA

Order the: Classic burger ($13.70)

Tucked down a little lane in Fortitude Valley, this decade-old American-style burger joint proves that less truly is more. Take Ben's signature cheeseburger. It’s not one to overthink: beef patty, cheese, pickles, mustard and ketchup. That’s it. No frills, just flawless execution. Vegos can swap their beef patty for a veggie option at no extra charge, and wash it down with a house-made cherry cola or ginger ale. Oh, and don't forget a serve of their perfectly seasoned chilli fries. 

Address: 5 Winn St, Fortitude Valley, QLD

Order the: Deluxe Cheeseburger ($18.50)

What started as a laneway pop‑up is now a Perth cult favourite, with five eateries scattered across the city. Known for smashed beef patties, crispy chicken tenders and generous fries, Hoodburger nails nostalgic Americana with bold simplicity. A fan favourite is the Deluxe Cheeseburger, featuring their iconic smashed patty with melty cheese, minced onion, dill pickles, lettuce, tomato, and the trifecta of mustard, ketchup and mayo. It’s great if you want no‑fuss, top‑level burger flavour served fast – and maybe washed down with an imported American soda or malted shake.

Address: Northbridge, Inglewood, Applecross, Duncraig & Mandurah, WA

Order the: OG ($14)

It was either Theodore Roosevelt or an inspirational quote on Facebook that said, “It is always better to be an original than an imitation.” In either case, the saying is true for the OG burger at Patty Shack Burger Bar in Darwin. The 100 per cent Aussie beef smashed patty is topped with all the classics: cheese, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato and the secret Shack sauce. It’s simple, but it works. The chefs at Patty Shack know what they’re doing; you don’t mess with a good thing. But you can make a mess with it. Fair warning: you’ll need napkins for this one. 

Address: 38 Progress Dr, Nightcliff, NT

Order the: Le Burger ($32)

In Perth's Mount Lawley hive, there’s a quaint bar and bistro that transports you to a bygone era of ‘Gay Paree’ combined with the present-day charm of New York haunts – Le Rebelle. The intimate night café takes things up a notch with its European fare, along with its thoughtful wine list to match any dish that takes your fancy. By no means is Le Rebelle a burger bar; however, one bunned offering can be found on their menu. The Le Burger bleeds two types of French cheese in all their glossy glory, a punchy tomato relish, and features a melt-in-the-mouth wagyu patty that seeps with its grilled juices – simple yet effective, rebellious by nature. 

Address: 676 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley, WA

Order the: Cheeseburger ($28)

Fancy pants Gimlet might be the last place you think of when you want a good old-fashioned cheeseburger, but think again. On late nights in the CBD when you're craving a cheesy beefy monstrosity, there are only so many spots that will welcome you in – and deliver. Gimlet's $28 cheeseburger is a fluffy potato bun sandwiching plenty of housemade dill sauce, pickles, onions, a succulent patty of Gippsland beef and, of course, a generous smoosh of American cheese. You can only get it two nights a week after 10pm. Well worth a midnight trip into the city, we reckon.

Address: Cavendish House, 33 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC

Order the: The Parmy ($28)

Grease Monkey, or Greasy’s as it’s affectionately known, is flipping gourmet burgers in three locations around Canberra. Their burgers are served with chippies, and the menu has something for everyone, be it a simple cheeseburger, an earth-shattering fried chook, or a crumbed portobello mushroom. We love their Italian(ish)-inspired parmy, where chicken schnitzel meets Napoli sauce and melty mozzarella sticks. Grease Monkey also sell one of the country’s best Philly cheesesteaks. Once you’ve tried every burger on the menu, return for their burger special of the moment. Swing by on a Tuesday for their ‘Tightarse Chewsday’ special, where you can score $20 burgers all day.

Address:19 Lonsdale St, Braddon, ACT

Order the: Classic Single ($13)

The Broken Hearts team went from pop-up to permanent fixture, and for good reason. The Classic Single here is a tribute to the art of smashing meat, featuring a patty blend that reads like a who’s-who of beef cuts (chuck, porterhouse, sirloin, oyster blade and yes, bacon), topped with American cheese, bread-and-butter pickles, and a house-made pink sauce that flirts with addiction. You’ll almost always spot a line out the door, but the payoff is one of Brisbane’s fastest and most delectable burgers. 

Address: Multiple locations across QLD

Order the: Godfather Deluxe ($27)

There’s a wood-centric small bar over in Perth's Osborne Park that takes drinkers and diners on an adventure to the Balkans through the medium of bites, burgers and beverages. The team at Chich do things a little differently, and it surefire shows in the best way possible. With a secret pljeskavica family recipe (that’s the grilled beef patty) hailing from Macedonia and going strong since the 1970s, it’s safe to say that you’re in for a treat. And although gnawing into the plain pljeskavica is tempting, the Godfather Deluxe is mighty irresistible with the addition of cheddar, coppa (pork cold cut), gherkins, red onion, tomato, lettuce and godfather sauce. It’ll have you saying, "wow, just like baba’s."

Address: 232 Main St, Osborne Park, WA

Order the: G.B. Burger ($22)

There are mighty good burgers down in Adelaide, more specifically, at a 2024 addition to the city's food scene, Good Burger. The upmarket diner churns out American fare with a flair, from Philly cheesy fries to hot honey fried chicken, and the burgers are no exception. The G.B. Burger is bound to appease with its smashed beef patty from Marino, cheese, caramelised onion, pickles, chilli, tomato, lettuce and good sauce, tucked between a pillowy potato bun. The 28-seater puts on an extensive drinks list too, and welcomes both casual and nicey-spicy diners all the same.

Address: 588 Goodwood Rd, Daw Park, SA

Order the: Hawaiian Five-O ($19.50–$21)

Long before Melbourne jumped on the burger trend train, it had the humble corner shop grilling the good old Aussie burger with ubiquitous add-ons of egg, beetroot and pineapple. This home-grown burger style has become a niche and is all the more reason to seek out the guilty pleasure of a crusty white roll encasing a super-caramelised patty topped with all the good stuff. Set aside your pretensions and support the guys who've been doing it since 1939. The classic Andrew's burger order is The Lot, of course, but we really love the Hawaiian Five-O. It comes with your choice of beef, steak or chicken, paired with pineapple, double cheese, fresh tomato, onions, beetroot, lettuce and tomato sauce. Word of warning: this is the kind of burger that warrants plenty of napkins (and not a white shirt). Fun fact: even Ed Sheeran took the time to pay these legends a visit! 

Address: 144 Bridport St, Albert Park, VIC

Order the: Devils Chicken ($17.50)

Tucked away in charming Battery Point, Devils Kitchen Café may look unpretentious from the outside, but step in and you’ll find a colourful, cosy place with a comprehensive burger menu. Run by a Korean couple, it has classics like beef and chicken burgers as well as Korean offerings like bulgogi, kimchi, grilled salmon and pulled pork. Our pick? The Devils chicken burger, inspired by Korean-style yangnyeom chicken with a house-made sauce. It's sweet and savoury with a delicious kick of heat. Chips come with every order (yay!), so the only question is, which of the eight dipping sauces do you pick?

Address: 58 Sandy Bay Rd, Battery Point, TAS

Order the: Single Cheeseburer

Eat at Robs (short for Rozelle’s Original Burger) was born when owner Michael Carter returned home from travelling and found a lack of good smash burger options. What began as a market stall has now grown into a burger shop that specialises in Oklahoma-style smash burgers with many loyal fans. The menu is short and simple. Our pick is the original cheeseburger, featuring 100 per cent grass-fed beef, caramelised onion and melted cheese on Martin’s potato rolls that are soft, squishy and a little bit sweet. 

Address: Darling Street Meats, 621 Darling St, Rozelle, NSW

Price: From $10.50